OKC FRIDAY Vol. 56 No. 36 • One Section • 16 pages • February 10, 2023
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Mautra Jones is named by Forbes as One to Watch
Going to work, family, faith are secrets to McDaniels’ long marriage By Rose Lane Editor The secret to a long and happy marriage is to keep working. And to center your life around family and faith. Eighty-three-year-old Brenda and 84-year-old Tom McDaniel have been married for 63 years and are coming up on 64 on June 12. Tom still serves as the president of the American Fidelity Foundation and goes to work each day. They are the former first lady and president of Northwestern University in Alva and Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City. The beloved community leaders met while he was a sophomore at Northwestern State University in Alva and she was a freshmen. Tom said he was playing football and an assistant to the coach who was teaching a first aid class. “I was able to arrange the seating so I could sit by the cute girls,” Tom said.
Brenda and Tom McDaniel on their wedding day, June 12, 1959.
See SECRETS, Page 14
Elections are on Tuesday By Rose Lane Editor Voters go to the polls on Tuesday to decide the unexpired Oklahoma County court clerk term, as well as a number of municipal and school board races. In the special primary for court clerk, three Republicans and five Democrats have thrown in their hats in hope of advancing to the special general election on April 4. The Republicans include Gloria Banister, Jonathan Clour and Maressa Treat. See ELECTIONS, Page 7
DR. MAUTRA JONES
in extraordinary ways. There are other outstanding higher ed CEOs who are Black, but these 10 are indisputably among our nation's best.” “I am honored to be recognized by Forbes as one of the Top 10 Black Higher Ed CEOs to Watch in 2023,” President Jones said. “As a leader in higher education, it is my passion to create opportunities for students to reach their
Oklahoma: ‘Wild West of marijuana’
Legislative leaders discuss the possible passage of recreational usage on March 7 Editor’s Note: This is the second in a two-part series detailing responses from Oklahoma state legislative leaders during a Greater Oklahoma City Chamber forum. By Rose Lane Editor Leaders of the Oklahoma
Kelli O’Hara coming to the Phil When Kelli O’Hara left Oklahoma, she had no doubt New York City was the right move. Having grown up on the wind-swept planes of Elk City and then later Deer Creek on the outskirts of Edmond, O’Hara had big dreams she was ready to follow. “I remember having no doubts about leaving,” O’Hara said. “When I moved to New York City I somehow felt like I belonged there. But I’m not sure it really dawned on me I wouldn’t be moving back to Oklahoma where my family is.”
Dr. Mautra Staley Jones, president of Oklahoma City Community College, has been named by Forbes a Top 10 Black Higher Ed CEO to Watch in 2023. This annual list recognizes outstanding leaders in higher education who are making a significant impact in their respective institutions and communities. This prestigious recognition acknowledges the outstanding leadership, vision, and contributions of President Jones to the field of higher education. “The higher education CEO role entails ambassadorship, inspiring students and campus community members, vision setting and actualization, fundraising and a whole lot of firefighting,” the Forbes article read. “These 10 Black higher education CEOs continue to lead their institutions and multicampus systems
As a child, O’Hara grew up in a family surrounded by music. Her grandparents listened to the Great American Songbook recordings of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Ella Fitzgerald, while her mom introduced her to movie musicals and singers like Julie Andrews and Shirley Jones. “I also listed to country music and loved Keith Whitley,” O’Hara remembered. “Then there was Whitney Houston; I wanted to sing just like her but my voice was See O’HARA, Page 3
Senate and House of Representatives gave their input on a variety of topics from the possible legalization of recreational marijuana to what to do with a $3 billion surplus. The panelists included Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, House of Representatives Speaker Pro
Dog of the Week
FRIDAY’s
Molly Martin is a 12yrold Llewellin Setter with so much love to share with everyone who comes to the house. She’s very polite, has great posture and is terrified of storms. She occasionally plays with her feline sister, J Lo Kitty, and they both take turns getting bites off of mom Cheryl Martin’s dinner plate! Molly likes to point to deer when they appear in the treelined creek in the backyard but after a while she barks for them to go away. This is her territory. Email nominations with a complete description to rose@okcfriday.com. Submissions are used in the order they are received.
Tempore Kyle Hilbert and House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson. ••• Medical marijuana led to an explosion of issues. How to manage recreational marijuana if State Question 820 passes on March 7? See FORUM, Page 16